Bangladesh sent a delegation to compete in the Olympic Games for the first time at the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the secon ...

in Los Angeles, United States from 28 July to 12 August 1984. The Bangladeshi delegation consisted of a single track and field athlete,

Saidur Rahman Dawn Saidur Rahman Dawn (born 18 January 1963) is a Bangladeshi sprinter. He competed in the men's 100 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) w ...

. In his two events, the 100 metres and 200 metres, he did not qualify to advance beyond the first round.

Background

The

Bangladesh Olympic Association Bangladesh Olympic Association ( bn, বাংলাদেশ অলিম্পিক সংস্থা; IOC code: BAN) is the National Olympic Committee representing Bangladesh. It is also the body responsible for Bangladesh's representation a ...

was recognized by the International Olympic Committee on 1 January 1980. The nation joined the United States-led boycott of the

1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...

, and therefore did not make their first Olympic appearance until these Los Angeles Games. The 1984 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles from 28 July to 12 August 1984; a total of 6,829 athletes representing 140 National Olympic Committees took part.

was the only competitor sent by Bangladesh to Los Angeles, and he was the flagbearer for the

opening ceremony An opening ceremony, grand opening, or ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening of a newly-constructed location or the start of an event.

Athletics

was 21 years old at the time of the Los Angeles Olympics, and was making his only Olympic appearance. On 3 August, he took part in the heats of the

100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been conteste ...

race, where he was drawn into eight, which he finished in 11.25 seconds, in eighth and last place for his heat. Only the top three in each heat and the next seven fastest from all heats could advance, and Dawn was eliminated. The gold medal was eventually won by Carl Lewis of the United States, the silver belonged to fellow American Sam Graddy, and the bronze was won by Canadian Ben Johnson. Three days later Dawn took part in the heats of the

200 metres The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slightl ...

. He was drawn into heat 1, and finished in a time of 22.59 seconds; seventh and last among those who finished his heat. This time, only the top three from a heat and the next two fastest overall could advance, and Dawn's competition came to an end. Americans eventually swept the podium, with Lewis winning the gold medal,

Kirk Baptiste Kirk Baptiste (June 20, 1962 – March 24, 2022) was an American track and field athlete, who mainly competed in the 200 metres. He was born in Beaumont, Texas. He competed for the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, ...

the silver, and Thomas Jefferson the bronze.

References

{{Country at games navbox, Bangladesh, Summer Olympics Nations at the 1984 Summer Olympics

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast A ...

Olympics The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...